Liquid delivery apparatus



1932- 5. w. STEDWELL 1,880,517 LIQUID DELIVERY APPARATUS Filed Feb- 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I SINVENTOR AT QRRJEY Oct. 4, 1932. G. w. STEDWELL LIQUID DELIVERY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 22, 19:50 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR end with a delivery Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE W. STEDWELL, OF Z BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SHERWELL CONTROLS, INO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LIQUID DELIVERY APPARATUS Application filed February 22, 1930. Serial No. 430,462. 1 .4-

This invention relates to liquid delivery apparatus of the special type in which flow through a delivery hose is goverened by a so-called Bowden wire or flexible mechanical connectionextending from an operating means at the nozzle end of the hose back to a switch, valve, or other control device. With the stretching and bending of the hose,

it has been found diificult to maintain a proper operating relation such that theactuating means at the nozzle will always properly operate the switch or other control device.

The objects of the present invention are to overcome the difficulty mentioned, with simple, reliable form of apparatus.

These objects" are attained by the novel features of construction, combinations and relations of broadly claimed.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification illustrate certain commercial embodiments of the invention and it should be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms, all within the scope of the claims.

Fig.- 1 is a broken side view -of an embodiment of the invention dispensing stand; Figs. 2 and 3 are broken enlarged sectional views of the mechanism at the opposite ends: of the delivery hose; Fig. 4 is a broken side elevation illustrating a modified form of the invention; Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary and part sectional views of the mechanism the hose in this modified embodiment. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional detail as on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2. r

In Fig. 1, a portion of a gasoline delivery stand is indicated at 7, a portion of the supply pipe being shown at hose which is connected therewith being indicated at 9. a

As generally customary in systems of this character, the hose is provided at the nozzle valve 10 operated by a hand lever 11.

The handle or hand lever 11 is also utilized in the present disclosure to operate a flexible mechanical'connection extending back along the hose to a switch or other departs hereinafter described and as applied to agasoline at opposite ends of.

18 and the delivery connection is shown as secured at 14 to the drum or pulley portion 15 of a lever member 16, whlch is pivot-ally supported at 17 and which carries a projecting lug 18 engaging with the operating arm switch 20. This switch is indicated as of the type which automaticallyreturns when released to the OE position and the lever member 16 is shown as weighted at 21, so asto drop back and permit the switch to return to the OE position as soon as the pull on the flexible wire connection is released.

As shown in Fig. 2, the switch operating Wire, at the nozzle end of the hose extends through an arcuate guide 22, which operates as a stop limiting the return movement of the hand lever and thence passes through a 19 of an electric guide and clutch opening 23 in the endotsaid lever. Beyond this point, the wire is shown as sliding freely in a guide channel 24 formed within the overstanding handle guard 25. I

A one way clutch engagement is effected between the hand lever and flexible mechanical connection in the illustration by means of alatch lever 26 pivoted at 27 within a slotted portion 28 of the hand lever and acted on by a spring 29, saidclatch lever having a latch point 30 adapted to grip or pinch the wire in the guide passage 23 when the latch lever is engaged by the fingers gripping the hand lever. 'When the hand lever drops back to the released position shown in Fig. 2, it will be noted that the active end of the latch lever willengage the upper end of the guide tube 23 and be thereby positively thrown out of gripping engagement with the wire.

To positively retract the hand lever and I a one way pickup connection is also disclosed the hand lever 11 and guard to thrust the lever inwardly and thus carry the hand latch into the automatic releasing position shown in Fig. 2. Thus, whenever the nozzle is returned to the hook, the hand lever is positively uncoupled from the pull wire. It will be understood furthermore, than even without returning the nozzle to supported relation, the hand lever will be uncoupled from the wire as soon as the grip of the hand is released, because of the one way drive action of the clutch or coupling. Thus, the hose may vary in length, either through stretching, bending, or the like, without having any efl'ect on the operation of the mechanical connections described, because said mechanical connections are uncoupled and relatively free, substantially up to the moment that the hand lever is gripped to operate the nozzle valve and throw the switch for starting the pump motor and that furthermore, this. coupling will then take place only in the proper relation of parts for then actuating the nozzle valve and throwing the pump switch or other flow governing or related device. The instant that grip on the hand lever is released, the one way clutch will let go and the switch will automatically return to the off position and the switch can not be thrown on again until .the hand lever drops back into position for giving the wire a proper throw and the lever is properly gripped to effect a clutching engagement with the wire. The wire is purposely made long enough to slide up into the hollow guard as in Fig. 2, thereby providing suflicient slack wire for any possible variations in len th of the hose and to allow for stretching o? the hose, which normally occurs with use.

It will be obvious that the invention is adaptable to other constructions and situations.

For example, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, instead of only a single pull wire being em- I ployed, the wire may be doubled in the nature of an endless belt, the hand lever picking up one side of this endless pull connection and the switch or other actuated device being coupled to the other side of the endless connection. The two reaches of wire are indicated at 12a and 126 respectively and they are shown as passing around pulleys 32, 33, at the nozzle and fixed ends of the hose, pulley 32 being j ournalled within the guard portion :5 25 of the nozzle and arranged with one run of th wire 12a in position to be picked up by the oneway drive connection of the hand lever, the other pulley 33 having a pickup connection by way of lever 16a withswitch lever 19a as in Fig. 3. To allow for variations in length, a spring connection 34 is shown arranged between the two runs of the cable and extending about the pulley 33, Fig. 6.

In the modified form under consideration,

between the operating wire and the switch. This one way connection is shown as a link 35 pivoted to lever 16a at 36 and having a slot 37 in its lower end for passage of the wire or cable 12?). Pivoted at 38 in the slotted portion of this link isa latch or clutch lever 39 adapted to bite or grip the cable when pressure is applied to the outer end of the same. In the illustration, the force for operating the clutch lever 39 is a lever 40 pivoted in the stand at 41 and carrying at its opposite end a hook 4:2 for supporting the nozzle. When the nozzle is removed from this hook the spring 43 lifts the hook, causing the inner end of said lever to press downward on the latch lever 39 as in Fig. 6, forcing thelatter to exert a gripping engagement with the wire 12b. Thus, when the nozzle is removed from its supporting hook, a one way drive connection will be eiiected at the switch operating device. Then when the hand lever is gripped to open the nozzle valve, a one way connection will be effected with the wire at the nozzle end of the hose. Therefore, under conditions of actual use, a driving relation will be established between the hand lever and the switch actuating mechanism.

The nozzle valve shown is equipped with a valve closing spring acting on the stem of the valve andas this stem is engaged by an arm of the hand lever, said valve operates to throw the hand lever back to the return position as soon as the grip on the handle is released. The handle is thus in efiect snapped back as soon as delivery of liquid is completed and this snap action is particularly desirable to automatically throw out the clutch. In gripping the handle, the clutch is first thrown into operation to grip the wire and the first part of the handle movement is then used to throw the switch, this movement of the handle taking up the lost motion between the end of the lever and the stem of the valve, so that the switch is thrown and the pump motor is started before the nozzle valve opens. This sequentially timed relation of the motor start ing switch and valve opening is particularly important, because it automatically insures that the proper liquid pressure will be put on the meter in the delivery line by the pump before the nozzle opens to permit discharge, thus insuring accurate meter operation. A special advantage of the normally uncoupled relation between the actuating handle and the pull wire is that if the hose be pulled or stretched accidently or otherwise, at such a time, there will be no effect on the pull wire. This is a tion of the motor against a closed, nozzle valve, which might result in hazardous pressure being put on the flexible hose. The guard which serves as a guide for the excess or spare-length portion of the wire is indisafety feature preventing accidental operacated as secured at its rearward end by screws a flow conduit, a hand lever mounted on said 44 to the ferrule 45 at the end of the hose and' vconduit, a flexible wire connection carried as detachably connected with the head of the nozzle at 46, this construction enabling the guard to be entirely removed and permitting of disconnection such as to enable relative rotation of the nozzle and hose ferrule in applyingor detaching the'nozzle. To afford connection and a pickup clutch having a one way drive relation to said mechanical connectlon.

2. Liquid flow apparatus, comprising in combination wlth a flow conduit, a mechanical operating connection on the outside of said flow conduit and coextensive therewith, means connected to be operated by said mechanical connection, means to actuate said connection and a pickup clutch for establishing a one way drive relation between said mechanical connection and one of said means a flexible hose and a mechanical connection coextensive therewith, one adapted to vary in length independently of the other, actuating means connected to operate said mechanical connection, an actuated device connected to be operated by said mechanical connection, an automatic self-adjusting clutch interposed in the line of mechanical connections between the actuating meansand actuated device for compensating for relative variations in length of the conduit and mechanical connection, a support for the hose and means for automatically releasing said clutch upon return of the support.

5. In apparatus of the character disclosed,

hose 'to the bythe conduit and a one way drive clutch between said hand lever and said flexible wire connection.

6. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of a flow conduit, a relatively s lidable ,mechanical operating connection carried by said-conduit, lever devices connected with different portions of said sliding mechanical connection and a one way clutch interposed in the connection between said sliding mechanical connection and each of said lever devices.

7. In apparatus of the characterdisclosed, a nozzle support, a hose nozzle adapted to be .mounted. thereon, said nozle having a movable handle adapted to be held in definite relation when the nozzle is returned to the support, an operating connection on the hose and a releasable clutch between the handle and said operating connection adapted to be held in an inoperative released relation when the nozzle is on the support as aforesaid.

8. A hose nozzle having a movable handle and a guard therefor, said guard having a guide channel, a flexible mechanical connection on the hoseand operating in said guide channel and a one way drive connection between said handle and a portion of the flexible connection operating in the guide channel.

9. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of a hose having an end ferrule and a nozzle revolubly coupled to said ferrule, a flexible mechanical connection carried by the hose and ferrule a guard mem her having a guideway for said flexible mechanlcal connection, said guard. member being connected at one end withthe nozzle structure, said ferrule having a seat for the end of the guard and means for detachably I I securing the opposite end portion of the guard to said seat on the hose ferrule.

10. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of a flexible hose,*a flexible operating connection extending along said hose, actuating means for conone way drive connection.

11. In liquid delivery apparatus, the combination of a flexible delivery hose, an actuating handle at thedelivery end of the hose,

a device to be actuated at a-point removed from the delivery end of the hose, a:flexible mechanical operating-connection carried by the hose and normally ineffective to transmit movement from the handle to the device t be actuated and means on the handle for ren dering said flexible mechanical connection ef-,

fective to transmit an operating impulse from for actuating the same and having a lost motion relation therewith, a mechanical actuating connection and a one way clutch operable to couple the handle to said mechanical connection prior to the operation of the nozzle valve by the handle. I

13. In combination, a nozzle valve, a handle for actuating the same and having a lost motion relation therewith, a mechanical actuating connection, a one way clutch operable to couple the handle to said mechanical connection prior to the operation of the nozzle valve by the handle and flow regulating-means arranged to be actuated by said mechanical connection prior to operation ofthe valve by said handle.

14. In liquid flow apparatus, the combination of a flexible hose, actuating means at the free end of the hose, a flexible mechanical connection coextensive with the hose, a one way clutch connection between said actuating means and the flexible mechanical connection and a device at a point removed from the free end of the hose, connected to be actuated by said flexible mechanical connection, there being a one way .clutch drive between said flexible mechanical connection and said nation of aflow conduit, a mechanical operat-- ingjconnection coextensive therewith, a hand device to be actuated;

15. In liquid flow apparatus, the combinationof a flexible hose, a flexible mechanical connection coextensive with said hose, means at the free end of the hose for actuating said flexible mechanical connection, a device to be actuated located at a point removed from the free end of thehose and a one way clutch between said flexible mechanical connection and said device to be actuated. A

16. In liquid flow apparatus, the combilever on said flow conduit for imparting pull movements to said mechanical operating connection, a device to be actuated by'pull move- -ments of said mechanical operating connection and located at a point removed from the hand lever .and means for operatively coupling the hand lever with the mechanical operating connection and the operating connec-- tion with the device to be actuated, including a one wayclutch efl'ective only for the pullingv operationof said mechanical operating connection.

17 m In liquid flow apparatus,-the combine tion of a flow conduit, a mechanical operat- ,ing connection coextensive therewith, a-hand lever on said flow conduit, a device to be actuated located at a point removed from the hand lever and means for operatively cou- \pling the hand lever with the mechanical operatmg connection and the operating connectionwith the device to be actuated, including a one way clutchand said one way clutch ble connector, said member arranged to oscillate on the lever for permitting flexure of the hose and relative movement of the flexible connector and member without operating the switch when said lever is in idle position.

19. In liquid flow apparatus, the combination of a flexible hose terminating in a nozzle, a switch for controlling an electric pump motor or the like and switch operating means extending from said nozzle to said switch, in. cluding a lever at said nozzle, a flexible connector extending from said nozzle to said switch and a member pivotally connected with said lever and arranged to form a driving connection between the lever and the flexi ble connector, said member arranged to oscillate on the lever for permitting flexure of the hose and relative movement of the flexible connector and member without opera-t ing the switch when said lever is in idle osition, the connection between the oscillating member and the flexible connector being effected by a clutch construction and operation, the lever having a passage freely receiving the flexible connector and the pivoted member having amovement to adjustably clamp the flexible connector in said passage.

20. In liquid flow apparatus, the combination of a. flexible hose terminating in anozzle,

a switch for controlling an electric pump motor or the like and switch operating means extending from said nozzle to said switch, including a lever at said nozzle, a flexible connector extending from said nozzle to said switch and a member pivotally connected with said lever and arranged to form a driving connection between the lever and the flexible connector, said member arranged to oscillate on the lever for permitting flexure of the hose and relative movement of the flexible connector and member without operating a switch for controlling an electric pump motor or the like and switch operating means extending from said nozzle to said switch,

the switch when said lever is in idle position tion, a valve in the nozzle controlling flow through said nozzle, said lever having a lost motion connection with said valve for opening the valve after efl'ecting operation of the switch through the flexible connector. I

22. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of a flexible hose relation.

and includinga hand lever operable toopen.

having an end ferrule, a relatively rotatable nozzle valve connected with said ferrule, control means associated with-the hose at a point remote from the nozzle valve, flexible energy transfer means coextensive with and carried by said hose, a valve actuating member carried by the nozzle valve and cooperatively related to said energy transfer means carried by the hose, the end ferrule of the hose having a seat for the flexible energy transfer means and a guard for said valve actuating member detachably connected between the hose ferrule and relatively rotatable nozzle valve, the end portion of said flexible energy transfer means being disposed between said seat of the ferrule and said guard and thereby retained at the end of the hose in proper cooperative relation with said valve operating 23. In liquid flow apparatus, the combination of a flexible hose, aflexible mechanicalv connection coextensive with said hose, a device actuated by said flexible mechanical connectlon and actuatinmmeans carried by the hose at a point removed from the actuated" device and including'a one-way clutch eflective only to apply a pulling force to the flex ible mechanical connection.

24. In liquid flow apparatus, thecombination of a flexible hose, a flexible mechanical connection coextensive with said hose, a device actuated by said flexible mechanical connection, a nozzle valve carried by the hose and including a hand lever operable toppen said valve by a gripping engagement of the hand with said lever and a one-way pull clutch operable by said nozzle valve hand. lever to apply a pullingforce to the flexible mechanical connection in the hand gripping movement of the lever for opening. the nozzle valve. 3

v 25. In liquid flow apparatus, the combination of a flexible hose, aflexible mechanical. I connection coextensive with said hose, a device actuated by said flexible mechanical connection,a nozzle valve carried by the hose said valve bya gripping engagement of the hand with said lever and a one-way pull clutch operable by said nozzle valve hand lever to apply a pullingforce to the flexible mechanical connection in the hand gripping movement'of the lever for opening the nozzle valve, said hand lever having a lost motion connection with the valve for effecting opening of the nozzle valve after actuation of the device aforesaid through the medium of the flexible mechanical connection.

' 26. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of a flexible hose and a nozzle valve including a valve proper and a hand lever operable to open said valve bya hand gripping movement of the lever, a support for said nozzle valve, said support and nozzle valve structure having cooperating parts for shifting the hand lever. the reverse of the hand gripping movement when the nozzle valve is engaged with said support, energy transfer means carried by and coextensiveeffect the release ofsaid drive; connection when the hand lever is shifted. as above by the positioning of the nozzle valve on the suport. p 27. In combination, a'flexible hose and a nozzle valve carried thereby, the latter in cluding a hand lever and a guard for the same, said guard havinga guide channel in the same. a flexible mechanical connection carried by the hose and extending therefrom into said guide channel in the guard to provide excess to compensate for stretching of the hose, and mechanical. connecting means between the hand leverand the flexible mechanical connection. A

28. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of a liquid flow line terminating in a flexible hose, an electric con; trol switch, a flexible mechanical connection extending from said switch along the hose, a one way drive connection between said flexible mechanical connection and switch for actuating said switch upon movement of the; v flexible mechanical connection in one direction and an actuator mounted on the hose for shifting said flexible mechanical connection in the direction to eflect said the switch.

29. In apparatus of the character (i18 closed, the combination of a liquid flow line its .operation of I terminating in a flexible hose, an electric control switch, a flexible mechanical connection extending from said switch along the hose, a one way drive connection between said flexible'mechanical connection and switch for actuating said, switch upon movement of, the.

flexible mechanical connection in one direc-L tion-and an actuator mounted on the hose for shiftin said flexible mechanical connection in the rection to effect said operation'of the 13.. 1

switch, a support for the flexible hose and means operable to effect release of the switch from the flexible mechanical connection upon handle to permit flexure and stretching of the hose without effecting movement to said flexible mechanical connectzonand a clutch for effecting the coupling of said handle in operating relation to said flexible mechanical connection prior to the actuation of said nozzle valve by said handle.

31. In liquiddelivery apparatus, the combination of a flexible delivery hose, an actuating handle at the delivery on d of the hose, a

device to be actuated at a point removed from a the delivery end of the hose, a flexible mechanical operating connection carried by the hose and normally. ineffect1ve to transmit movemcnt from the handle to the device to be actuated, said operating connection having a free sliding relation with said handle, a hand engaged member on said handle for gripping the free sliding portionfof said connectionto said handle and means for connecting the opposite end portion of the flexible connec-; tion to the device to be actuated.

32. In liquid delivery apparatus, the combination of a flexible delivery hose, an actuating handle at the delivery end of the hose, a device to be actuated at a point removed from the delivery end of the hose, a flexible mechanical operating connection carried by the hose and. normally ineffective to transmit movementfrom the handle to the device to be actuated, said operating connection having a free sliding relation with said handle, a hand engaged member on said handle for gripping the free sliding portion of said connection to said handle, means for connecting the opposite end portion of the flexible-connection to the device to be actuated and means associated with the handle for positively releasing the hand engaged connection gripping means in the released position of the handle aforesaid.

33. Liquid delivery apparatus including a flexible hose, a device to be actuated and an actuating device associated with opposite end portions of said hose, a flexible mechanical COTIHOCtIOII co-extenslve w1th said hose for transmitting an actuating impulse from the 34. The combination of a liquid delivery hose, actuating and actuated devices associat ed with opposite end portions of said hose, a doubled endless flexible mechanical connection co-extensive with said hose and of vari-.

able length to accommodate flexure and stretching of the hose and means for opera tively connecting the opposite looped end portions 'of said endless. connection with said actuating and actuated devices including clutch means to grip said flexible connection at various points inaccordance with the twisting or stretching of the hose.

35. In combination with a flexible hose having a nozzle valve, a handle for actuating said valve, a flexible energy transfer connection coextensive with and carried by the hose and a finger actuated device carried by said handle and arbitrarily operable at different stages in themovement of the handle for energizing said flexible transfer connection at selected positions in the nozzle valve opcrating movement of said nozzle valve handle.

36. In combination with a flexible hose having a nozzle valve, a handle for actuating said valve, a flexible energy transfer connection coextensive with and carried by the hose, a finger actuated device carried by said handie and arbitrarily operable at different stages in the movement of the handle for energizingsaid flexible transfer connection at selected positions in the nozzle valve 0 erating movement of said nozzle valve hand e and means for automatically rendering said activating device inactive on the release of said nozzle valve handle.

37. In combination with a flexible hose having a nozzle valve, a handle for actuating saidvalve, a flexible energy transfer connection coextensive with and carried by the hose,

a device to be actuated from said energy transfer connection and locatedat a point remote from the nozzle, an automatic selfadjusting coupling from the flexible. connection to the device to be actuated and a handle controlled arbitrarily operable coupling between the nozzle valve handle and the energy transfer connection.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE W. STEDWELL.

actuating device to the actuated device but free ofboth said'devices to enable flexing or stretching of the hose without transmitting an actuating impulse from one device to the other and clutch means at both ends of said impulse transmitting connection for coupling the same respectively to said actuating'and actuated devices. 

